At a glance

Your chance to

Watch sunset and sunrise from Manang over Gangapurna and the Annapurnas

Cross the formidable Thorong La

At a glance

3 nights standard hotels, 11 nights teahouses

11 days point-to-point walking with full porterage

Altitude maximum 5416m, average 2800m

Annapurna Circuit in two weeks

The Annapurna Circuit - rightly known as Nepal's classic trek - offers more variety than any other equivalent length trek, taking us through virtually every type of scenery that Nepal has to offer. There are superb views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri and an amazing variety of landscapes ranging from sub-tropical through alpine peaks to an arid semi-desert akin to Tibet. The climax of the trek is crossing the iconic Thorong La Pass (5416m). Based in teahouses throughout, we also get to spend time in villages inhabited by many of Nepal's different peoples, both Buddhist and Hindu.

We leave Kathmandu early in the morning and drive towards Pokhara. After leaving the Kathmandu valley the road snakes its way westwards along the Trisuli Valley. We get superb views of the mountains, particularly the Ganesh Himal and Manaslu as we follow the river to Mugling. We then turn off the main road at Dumre and continue to Besisahar where we begin our trek. From Besisahar we walk down to the river and cross to the east side to avoid the new road which is currently under construction. Our trail undulates above the river, continuing northwards up the Marsyangdi Valley with Himalchuli and Peak 29 dominating the horizon. We pass through rice paddies and villages for two hours until we meet the main trail at Bhulebule.See more images and videos

3Day 3Slowly ascend the Marsyangdi Valley to the village of Manang.

The trail continues up the east bank of the river passing a beautiful waterfall to Ngaddi. Here we cross a suspension bridge and then begin a steady climb through scrub forest finally arriving at Lampatta, a Manangi village with Tibetan style prayer flags. A final short sharp ascent brings us to the village of Bahundanda, perched on a ridge at 1311m. From the ridge we descend to the river at Syange (1136m) where we once more cross the river. The trail then follows the river to Jagat.See more images and videos

4Day 4Dharapani

An undulating trail leads to Chyamje, after which we cross a suspension bridge and climb through oak forest. The river disappears from view as we climb over a ridge. The trail then emerges into a level valley where 'Tal', the next village is situated at the foot of a grand waterfall (1700m). Crossing the river again the path now ascends and then descends to the village of Dharapani at 1943m.See more images and videos

5Day 5Chame

Beyond this village we continue our climb over a spur to Bagarchap, at 2164m. The name of this village means 'butcher's place' and, although Buddhist, the people of this region do hunt animals. Continuing we follow the trail through forest to Dhanagyu and climb up to Temang, where we have lunch with magnificent views of Manaslu and Peak 29. The trail then descends though fir and pine forests to Koto and Chame (2713m), administrative centre of the Manang district.See more images and videos

6Day 6Pisang

The scenery chnages dramatically. Leaving the forests of the alpine region behind we enter the upper district of Manang, known as Nyeshang. At first our trail follows the river closely through a deep canyon, passing a number of waterfalls on the opposite side of the river before coming to Brathang at 2919m. The trail then follows the steep narrow valley through deep forest from which there are fine views of Annapurna II. We cross the river where the impressive curved rock face of PaungdaDanda rises nearly 1500m from the riverbank, and climb away from the noise of the water to the village of Pisang at 3,185m.See more images and videos

7Day 7Slowly ascend the Marsyangdi Valley to the village of Manang.

There are 2 options today. The energetic can take the high route to Manang via the villages of Gyaru and Ngawal. This is a wonderful walk with great views across to the Annapurnas. We drop down to the main trail just before Braga and continue on the main trail to Manang. The second option is to take the shorter main trail to Manang which climbs a low pass into the valley below Pisang Peak. As we continue up the valley, it becomes increasingly barren, and eventually we reach Braga, a picturesque village dominated by a large ancient gompa. The Tree Nursery is located here, a project that Exodus has supported for many years. There will be time to pay a visit and see how it is progressing. Passing carved mani walls we arrive at the village of Manang at 3351m. The longer walk will take approximately 8-9 hours and the shorter walk 5-6 hours.See more images and videos

8Day 8Acclimatisation day in Manang.

We spend this day around Manang acclimatising to the altitude. Most people climb the hill behind Manang to enjoy the magnificent views of the whole Annapurna range and the enormous icefall that crashes and rumbles down from Gangapurna. We are closest to the mountains or this section of the trek. Across the valley the huge bulk of Gangapurna and the Annapurnas tower way above us- the sunset and sunrise over this great amphitheatre is one of the most beautiful mountain views in the country.See more images and videos

9Day 9Yak Kharka

Leaving Manang we head towards the base of the Thorong La. We climb out of the Marsyangdi valley and turn northwest up the valley of the JarsangKhola. We are above the forests now and pass through dry, alpine country, with scrub juniper and occasional clumps of birch. We spend tonight at a lodge in Yak Kharka. We will reach the lodge by lunchtime and in the afternoon we will have an acclimatisation walk onto the surrounding hills. Look out for the Blue Sheep that inhabit this cold, windy spot.See more images and videos

10Day 10Thorong Pedi

Another short day to aid acclimatisation. The scenery becomes more wild as we continue ascending the valley. At one point we descend to cross the JarsangKhola, and traverse a scree slope to the lone teahouses at Phedi at the foot of the Thorong La (4,400m). ThorongPhedi can be very cold and windy. In the afternoon we can go for a walk up to Thorong High Camp which is the last lodge and is about an hour above Phedi.See more images and videos

11Day 11Cross the mighty Thorong La (5416m) to Muktinath, a place of pilgrimage.

A long day as we leave Phedi very early the next morning for the climb to the pass. The first part of the ascent is very steep, but it eases somewhat as we approach the top, although the altitude still makes the going tough. Eventually, after numerous false summits, we reach the pass itself at 5416m. Ahead there is a magnificent panorama of snow-capped peaks extending northwards into Tibet, and looking back we can see several of the main peaks of Annapurna. Directly in front of us is the great chasm of the Kali Gandaki, 2,500m. below. The long descent starts gently but becomes steeper, as a series of switch-backs finally reach the grassy slopes, before easing off to a gentle descent to Muktinath (3802m).See more images and videos

12Day 12Trek via Lupra to Jomsom.

From Muktinath we pass through a landscape of bare, eroded hills with a backdrop of snow-capped high peaks. After visiting the temples we take an off the beaten track trail uphill for about an hour to a small col with excellent views of Dhaulagiri. Descending steeply we come to the isolated village of Lupra with an ancient Bon monastery. After lunch we follow a fantastic gorge down to the Kali Gandaki Valley. The last couple of hours we follow the main trail into Jomsom.See more images and videos

13Day 13Fly to Pokhara;afternoon free to explore the lakeside at Pokhara.

The flights from Jomsom to Pokhara are usually in the early morning due to the high winds which blow up the Kali Gandaki Valley later in the day. The short but very spectacular flight takes us all the way down the Kali Gandaki Valley with great views of Niligiri and Dhaulagiri. We fly to Pokhara, where we transfer to a small guesthouse for the night. The rest of the day is free to explore this lakeside resort. You can hire a bike and cycle round the lake, shop or simply relax in the one of the lakeside cafes.See more images and videos

14Day 14Fly to Kathmandu

We fly to Kathmandu. If the weather is good there should be good views of the western end of the Nepal on this flight. The rest of the day is free to explore Kathmandu. You may wish to visit Durbar Square in the heart of the old city where the old Royal Palace, with its intricate woodcarving is located. Outside is KumariChowk, home of the Kumari, the young girl who is revered as a living goddess. You may wish to visit the monkey temple at Swayambhunath, one of the largest Buddhist Stupas in the world at Bodnath, or the most important Hindu temple in the valley at Pashupatinath. Various sightseeing tours can be booked and paid for locally at the hotel in Kathmandu. For details see the Optional Excursions section. (Very occasionally it may not be possible to fly, in which case we return to Kathmandu by road, arriving in the evening).See more images and videos

Your images

Adult Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 4 and 16 in size, with an average of 12 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You have a good level of fitness and are looking for a physically challenging holiday. Previous experience is essential for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

3 breakfasts

All accommodation

London flights (if booking incl. flights)

Arrival and departure transfers

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation - GBP80 (Kathmandu only)

Accommodation details

Hotel & Lodges

3 nights standard hotels, 18 nights teahouses.
Local mountain lodges (also known as teahouses) are used throughout this trek. We have built up a strong relationship with the owners by using them for many years so we know these lodges will provide good service for our clients, including decent quality food and accommodation with the minimum impact on the environment.
Most lodges now have twin bedded rooms but you should still be prepared to sleep in multi-bedded rooms on the occasional night, (this is now quite rare).
Some lodges now have showers (charged at about £2/US$3.50 per shower) and all have some form of washing facilities along with toilets.

Accommodation in Kathmandu is on a twin share basis. Single rooms are available at an additional cost. Please let us know as early as possible if you would like a single room while at the hotel in Kathmandu. Single rooms whilst on the trek are not possible, as many of the lodges are busy, especially in peak season

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Most nationalities require a visa for Nepal, which can be obtained in advance or on entry. The current cost of a visa on arrival is USD25 for 15 days, USD40 for 30 days or if extending your stay USD100 for 90 days. All are multiple entry. You will also need a passport photo. The visa fee can be paid in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling or Euros. If you wish to apply before departure the current visa cost is GBP20 for a 15 day visa and GBP35 for a 30 day visa for UK passport holders. All other nationalities should check with their nearest embassy.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is present in certain regions only (such as Chitwan); you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Most of our trips to Nepal go to high altitudes where there is a risk of being affected by Acute Mountain Sickness. Our itineraries are designed to enable everyone to acclimatise to these altitudes, but you should be aware that it is still possible for you to be affected. Please refer to the TRIP NOTES for complete advice on AMS.
Holiday style

This is a level 5 trek with 11 days walking. The maximum altitude is 5,416m, and the average altitude is 2,800m.
Apart from the Thorong La, a high pass with a steep approach, the walking on this trek is generally quite moderate, and the first few days do not involve any long or steep ascents. We recommend this trek to those who want a thorough overview of the Nepalese Himalaya. We schedule this trek for the best times of year for crossing the Thorong La. However, it may very occasionally be impossible to cross the pass if there is an unseasonable snowfall, and in this event, we would have to retrace our route back down the Marsyangdi River.
The Mini Annapurna Circuit trek involves walking on almost entirely well-established trails. Apart from the crossing of the Thorong La the walking is at intermediate altitude, but it is likely to be below freezing on several nights. During the crossing of the Thorong La it will be extremely cold! Some snow or ice may be encountered on the pass.

Altitude maximum 5416m, average 2800m.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts included.
On trek the breakfast will be a set menu usually consisting of porridge and toast. Any additional items that are not included in the set menu should be ordered and paid for separately. Please allow £15 - £25 per day for other meals and drinks on trek and in Kathmandu. We do not include lunch and dinner on trek allowing you to choose what you want to eat and when. The menus in the lodges are varied, ranging from traditional Nepalese dhal bhat to pizza and apple pie. Please note that if you buy imported food and drink whilst on trek you will spend more than the above amount.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including
detailed itinerary and full kit list

Weather & seasonality

The main trekking season in Nepal is from October to mid-May when daytime temperatures at most altitudes are generally comfortable for walking, the sky is clear much of the time and rain and snow are occasional occurrences. Daytime temperatures will vary from 15 to 35degC in the Kathmandu Valley to around 10degC at 3,600m and progressively lower the higher we go. Different seasons offer different advantages for trekking.

The crossing of the Thorong La can be cold at any time of year. There is sometimes a high wind over the pass which makes the crossing extremely cold and you must have adequate protection for very cold temperatures whilst crossing the pass.

Post Monsoon/autumn: Mid September to November. This is the main trekking season in Nepal. Day temperatures in Kathmandu are approx. above 20degC. Skies are usually clear and days on trek are sunny and mild with clear mountain views. Nights will be colder with temperatures dropping as low as to -5degC at the higher altitudes.

Winter: December to end February. Despite the colder conditions this is an ideal time to trek in Nepal. Skies are usually very clear especially in December and the mountain views are at their best. Nights will be very cold with temperatures down to -10degC at the highest altitudes but days are pleasant and sunny. The trails are also much less busy at the time of year. In Kathmandu maximum daytime temperatures are 19degC.

Pre-monsoon: March to May. Both day and night temperatures will be warmer in general but haze will often build up in the afternoons. It is very hot in the lowlands and temperatures rise to 35degC in Kathmandu. Flowers bloom in this season and this is one of the reasons people chose to trek in spring.

Snow can be expected on any departure, usually at the higher altitudes above Manang. Very occasionally the Thorong La may be blocked by snow. If this happens we can spend one day waiting, and then if it is still not possible to cross the pass we must retrace our steps to Besisahar.

Gallery

Reviews & community

This was an epic adventure. Definitely recommend it. Amazing scenery - amazing people that you meet en route. But be prepared!

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Crossing the Thorong La Pass was mentally and physically challenging due to the tough weather conditions. It was minus 18 and a very strong wind - which made the conditions very tricky. The decision was made at about 5,200m that the pass was too dangerous and we had to return down the mountain to High Camp. After sheltering with the porters at about 5,000m the decision was made to go back up. There was lots of deep snow and ice. We made it safely - but be prepared. It was a 13 hour day.

What did you think of your group leader?

The guide, assistant guide and porters were great. Keep your main pack to 12kgs as the porters carry 2 packs plus their own bag. They made Xmas day and New Years eve special for us.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Be prepared if you trek in December. We had lots of snow - which meant it was uncertain if we could get over the Pass. Have good thermal base layers, a good down jacket with hood, good waterproofs, hat, gloves etc. There are showers in the tea houses but they are freezing cold. We did not shower for 18 days - but with good merino layers it is fine. The food is good in the tea houses - always the same menu but lots of choice. But drink, drink, drink water to combat altitude sickness. I took tablets and a steripen for the water. Drink at least 4 litres a day. Have a 4 season minimum sleeping bag for December departures - though some tea houses provided blankets. Be prepared to walk for 18 days - it's fun - but only if you're prepared and put in some training. You need yak traks - but can get them in Kathmandu. You can buy snacks on the trek - you will need some to keep energy levels high on some of the steep ascents. You can charge batteries in most tea houses free of charge. Wifi is random as is phone signal. Consider flying with Qatar rather than Jet. Take a buff. Change money either at the airport or in the hotel - exchange rate the same. Take walking poles.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Be prepared and you will love it. Be flexible - routes and plans change. We couldn't fly from Pokhara to Kathmandu - as no flights due to the weather - so we did the long road trip. It was fine - all part of the adventure.

A great, well planned trip with breath taking views from beginning to end.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

The Thorong La pass was a great achievement. Our group was one of the first few to cross over after the recent avalanche. Conditions were not normal and all staff members worked relentlessly to ensure we were safe.

The other side of Annapurna, In particular Kagbeni and Muktinath were fantastic.....you see the landscape change and you finally get to go downhill. Well worth doing the full circuit.

The staff and their constant effort to please and cater for our every need also made the trip worthwhile.

What did you think of your group leader?

Prem Gurung - was fantastic, he was full of knowledge, he paced the groups out well and never stopped working. He and his team worked very well together.

His other staff members were also wonderful
Pemba Sherpa - Excellent front pacer, took care of everyone and their rooms and also never stopped working
Nima Sherpa - Excellent back marker, always thinking ahead and took care of us slow walkers
Lal - worked hard and good allrounder

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Layers - I didn't bother with a down jacket, i know my body varies in heat, so I layered up and peeled of as and when required.

Thermals&amp; Fleece - Invest in decent merino wool layers. I purchased Icebreakers, they were smell proof and well insulated...well worth every penny.

Snacks - you will always get to buy snacks along the way, it's good to contribute torwards the local economy, so don't get too bogged down on buying and bringing snacks from home.

Water - Handy to bring water purification tablets, there are safe water drinking stations along the way (not at every place, so please check with the guide in advance)

Food - Never had any problems and enjoyed every meal, there was a varied selection. Daal baath, is always the safest option for protein and plenty inclusive refills. Try the different teas at the teahouses. I recommend purchasing peanut butter to add to your toast/rotis at breakfast.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Listen to your guides - they speak from experience and always have the groups best welfare in mind
Take a diary - It was nice to map, and write down moments remembered, lunch stops and interesting encounters.
Equipment - If you purchase anything from a Kathmandu/Pakhora market, it will be cheap but not real.
Exodus tree nursery - This was disappointing to see, Exodus should consider investing in eco-sanitation, environmental, and/or safe water drinking projects.
Book this trip soon, the road is being built and we had no choice to walk parts of it, further road construction is bound to happen and change the nature of this circuit.

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